At a platinum mine in Limpopo, Anglo American debuted the world’s largest green-hydrogen driven truck, with the goal of replacing a fleet of 40 diesel-fueled vehicles that each uses approximately a million gallons of the fossil fuel each year.

The NuGen project at Anglo’s subsidiary Anglo American Platinum’s Mogalakwena mine will employ a 140MW solar plant to produce hydrogen electrolyzers to split water and generate hydrogen fuel for the trucks, which can carry 315 tons of ore apiece. Engie SA has aided Anglo in the setup of the system.

According to Julian Soles, head of technological development, mining, and sustainability at Anglo American, the initiative is a first step toward turning eight of the company’s mines carbon neutral by 2030.

The corporation has set a goal of achieving such status for all of its activities by 2040.

Soles remarked in Polokwane, “People warned us three years ago that this was not going to happen, that this was not a smart idea.” They’re starting to pay attention now. Our goal is to see this implemented across our company and the mining sector. Anglo has the option of commercializing this.

The mining firm approached several equipment manufacturers with the notion of constructing a hydrogen-powered vehicle fleet. When it was turned down, it decided to convert its diesel fleet to run on cleaner fuel.

“Around 80% of our diesel use at our major mines comes from heavy vehicles,” Soles explained. “What we needed to create was a whole ecology.”

A zero-emission haulage system is made up of a solar photovoltaic site, an electrolyzer, and a refilling system.

According to Duncan Wanblad, Anglo American’s CEO, the haul truck fleet presently contributes 10% to 15% of the company’s Scope 1 emissions, or emissions generated directly from its own activities.

Hydrogen does not produce greenhouse gases, but diesel does. There are no carbon emissions from the production process since the fuel is made by splitting water using solar energy. Fuel cells containing platinum in their components are installed in the vehicles.

The world’s largest open-pit platinum group metals mine is Mogalakwena.

It’s a sensible step for Anglo American, but it’s a tremendous leap for South Africa’s hydrogen economy, according to President Cyril Ramaphosa. “We are being drawn to the hydrogen economy.”